[Communication Sciences](/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 410 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for communication sciences students.
Our analysis ranked California State University Fullerton the best value for a degree in communication sciences in the United States. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $76,358. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny Brooklyn College one of the best values for communication sciences. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, compared with $15,402 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $14,250. Communication Sciences graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $79,626 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
A rank of #3 makes Cuny Hunter College one of the best values for communication sciences. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete the communication sciences program here. Early-career communication sciences graduates make about $67,285. Set against $11,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Northridge is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communication sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Students borrow a median of $15,356 to complete the communication sciences program here. Communication Sciences graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $66,689 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication sciences will find it at California State University Long Beach, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $71,102. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Los Angeles earned the #6 position for value in communication sciences this year. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $7,164 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete the communication sciences program here. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $85,836. Set against $12,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Florida earned the #7 position for value in communication sciences this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,884. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Cuny Queens College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value communication sciences schools. Cuny Queens College is a very large public school located in the city of Queens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,538, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $8,500. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $75,206. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
California State University Fresno landed the #9 spot for communication sciences value this year. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, with out-of-state students paying around $19,941. Students borrow a median of $17,336 to complete the communication sciences program here. Communication Sciences graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $79,189 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,336 median debt. California State University Fresno admits about 95% of applicants.
California State University Sacramento earned the #10 position for value in communication sciences this year. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. Students from in state pay about $8,018 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,618 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $17,750. Communication Sciences graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $78,448 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. California State University Sacramento admits about 94% of applicants.
Florida State University landed the #11 spot for communication sciences value this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,309 to complete the communication sciences program here. Early-career communication sciences graduates make about $54,565. Set against $20,309 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
Texas Womans University placed #12 among the best values for communication sciences. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,480. Students borrow a median of $17,463 to complete the communication sciences program here. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from Texas Womans University generally make around $65,485. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The University Of Texas Pan American came in at #13 for value in communication sciences this year. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $14,750. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $64,391. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in communication sciences this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $22,208. Communication Sciences graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $62,613 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,208 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
California State University San Marcos placed #15 among the best values for communication sciences. California State University San Marcos is a large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,082, compared with $20,682 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,998 to complete the communication sciences program here. Communication Sciences graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $74,686 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,998 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Central Florida placed #16 among the best values for communication sciences. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $22,075. Communication Sciences graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $56,314 early in their careers. Set against $22,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Florida International University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value communication sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete the communication sciences program here. Early-career communication sciences graduates make about $56,964. Set against $19,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
California State University East Bay landed the #18 spot for communication sciences value this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,583, with out-of-state students paying around $20,183. Students borrow a median of $18,261 to complete the communication sciences program here. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $74,772. That is a strong return on a $18,261 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #19 position for value in communication sciences this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Communication Sciences graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Early-career communication sciences graduates make about $57,741. Set against $15,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #20 position for value in communication sciences this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $18,000. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $79,223. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus came in at #21 for value in communication sciences this year. Located in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,074, compared with $9,054 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $25,000. Communication Sciences graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earn a median of $66,460 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus admits about 92% of applicants.
San Francisco State University landed the #22 spot for communication sciences value this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. In-state tuition and fees average $7,846, while out-of-state students pay about $20,446. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the communication sciences program here. Communication Sciences graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $81,670 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The University Of Texas At El Paso landed the #23 spot for communication sciences value this year. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,544 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,502 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,819 to complete the communication sciences program here. Soon after graduation, communication sciences degree recipients from The University Of Texas At El Paso generally make around $48,335. Set against $19,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University came in at #24 for value in communication sciences this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #25 for value in communication sciences this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for communication sciences graduates is $20,212. Early-career communication sciences graduates make about $59,558. That is a strong return on a $20,212 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Communication Sciences Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for communication sciences this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 410 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 265 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Communication Sciences](/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
